Anno Domino: Quotes by Alan Ayckbourn
“The inspiration for Anno Domino came from the idea that all relationships ultimately, however resilient they appear to be, are built on sand. And it only takes one couple to break up abruptly to take us all by surprise, then all of a sudden everyone is questioning their own unshakeable relationship.”(Yorkshire Post, 16 May 2020)
"I dug this play off the shelf," he says, "and it looked recordable. It looked radio friendly. There wasn't too much visual action, there were no vicars running around with no trousers on.”
(BBC Radio 4, 20 May 2020)
"It was a labour of love. Don't be fooled that Heather and me mucking about in our sitting room is live theatre. It's a radio play.”
(BBC Radio 4, 20 May 2020)
"It was written long before this virus decided to rear its ugly head! Actually, before the SJT new play Truth Will Out. But the latter was an altogether darker piece and was concerned with another type of virus, a virulent computer virus, though, which brings the country to a standstill. A type of doomsday scenario piece and perhaps not too cheering in these darker days.
“Still, I nearly predicted it correctly – I just got the wrong virus. Anno Domino, though, is altogether lighter and more optimistic. (Though, knowing me, it still has its dark corners!)"
(Charleshutchpress, 21 May 2020)
“[Anno Domino posits] that all relationships, however resilient they appear, are built on sand. It takes one couple to break up – then everyone is questioning their own relationship.”
(Daily Telegraph, 22 May 2020)
“I suggested to Paul Robinson [Artistic Director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre] that Heather and I do a play together here and I saw his eyes light up because the theatre needs anything it can to draw attention to itself now. We need to say we’re still here.”
(The Observer, 24 May 2020)
“It was a play I’d started some years back, but it kept getting gazumped by other plays.”
(The Observer, 24 May 2020)
“I recorded on a fairly basic system, but I could multitrack which was fun and allowed all the voice overlaps. The main trouble we had was differentiating the sound of the characters. I did use pitch control a little on teenagers, but the older couple and the middle-aged people were no problem for us.”
(The Observer, 24 May 2020)
“I always enjoyed acting, but one thing I didn’t miss when I stopped was having to go into the theatre in the evening. When I wrote my first play I realised I had the evening free. I went round the corner to the pub instead, but then I got a bit worried about how it might all be going and went in.”
(The Observer, 24 May 2020)
"You only ever 'meet' the couple in question very fleetingly, the play really is about the impact their news has, the reverberations on the people around them."
(Yorkshire Post, 27 May 2020)
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